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SHERMAN, Conn. — A man from Sherman who teaches at Brewster High School in New York was formally charged with rape Tuesday for having a sexual relationship with a student, according to Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith.

The defendant is over the age of 21 and the student involved is under 17 years of age. Under the law, a person under 17 years old is deemed incapable of giving lawful consent to a sexual relationship.

Brewster High School officials received information about the relationship between Vlangas and a 16-year-old female student on Oct. 12 and notified the Sheriff’s Office, which began an investigation. Vlangas did not return to the school campus after the investigation began, McNamara said.

At the time the crimes took place, Vlangas was a Naval science instructor in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Program at Brewster High. According to social media content posted on the Internet, he is a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer, McNamara said.

At the conclusion of the investigation, deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Vlangas. He was arrested in Danbury by officers of the Danbury Police Department.

Investigators also obtained judicial search warrants and executed searches of Vlangas’ office at the school, his Connecticut home, and his vehicle. At this time, authorities are not disclosing whether any evidence was found in those searches, McNamara said.

He was held at the Putnam County Jail on $150,000 cash bail or $250,000 bail bond.